For those with a spring in their step and a yearning for the outdoors, an exotic wildlife adventure is the only way such thirst can be quenched. Star Vacations brings to you a selection of unique wildlife destinations across the world to help you plan the best wildlife tour in the destination of your choice.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking:
Uganda is one of the few places in the world where you get to experience a wildlife encounter as close and as enthralling as possible. It is home to nearly 10 national parks and 13 game reserves where animals can live safe from the eyes of human predators. Amidst the vast tracts of forest in Uganda, there lies an aisle of paradise known as Bwindi. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a magnificent green swathe of dense rainforest, so ancient that it survived the last ice age. A recently proclaimed World Heritage site, it’s one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth and its unique, precious flora sustains roughly half of the world population of mountain gorillas – believed to number just 720. There’s also a substantial chimpanzee population and research shows that Bwindi is the only forest in Africa in which these two apes live together without conflict.
Image Credits: Forbes
So how does one get to see these magnificent apes up close? A gorilla trek is an answer. You’ll be chaperoned by expert guides who know the animals innately and can get you within extremely close quarters of the gorillas. There are a total of 4 sectors within the park that contain a total of around 15 gorilla families that have been rehabilitated and are monitored closely by the park authorities. This is where one truly gets to observe life from a unique angle, that of a great ape.
Where does this tour start from?
Ideally, your tour will start from Entebbe, in central Uganda, where you will then be transported to Bwindi to begin your trek.
How long does this tour take?
An Uganda wildlife tour that includes a Gorilla trek could take up to 4 nights to get the best out of your tour.
What is the best season for this experience?
Uganda has 2 main seasons, dry and wet. While experiencing the forest during the rains is a surreal experience, first-timers to the outdoors may consider visiting during the dry season.
Rajasthan: Camping Among Leopards
While there is a special allure to the sands of the Thar and all of Rajasthan’s intricacies, there is also a section that is little unexplored in this heritage state. Rajasthan harbors the Aravalli mountain range, an expansive group of mountains that also passes through Haryana and Gujarat. This exotic scrub jungle locale is the perfect home for all manners of wildlife, but especially for one of India’s most enigmatic big cats.
The Indian leopard makes its home among the craggy rock formations and scrubs jungle of the Aravallis. Compared to its brethren elsewhere in India’s jungles, leopards here have a lighter coat that makes them almost impossible to sight on a jungle safari in Rajasthan. But they are most assuredly there
Image Credits: Leopard Nature Camp
An exquisite luxury camp like the Sujan Jawai that is nestled right next to the Aravallis gives you the perfect opportunity to try and sight the leopard in the company of impeccable luxury and Rajasthan’s best hospitality. Sujan Jawai is a sustainable luxury camp that has been heralded for its sustainable tourism efforts. With the help of the Rabaris, the local pastoral community whose penchant for animal tracking comes second to none, be assured that a wildlife sighting with them is pretty much guaranteed.
Where Does This Tour Start From?
Sujan Jawai is located near the Jawai Bandh in the Pali district, Rajasthan. This is the best base for all wildlife activities around the region.
How Long Does The Tour Take?
In order to get the best out of your wildlife expedition, we recommend staying around the Aravallis for at least 3 nights.
What Is The Best Season For This Experience?
September and October are typically a mix of hot and cold weather, while it does get quite toasty in the region by summertime. Post-monsoons and winter times are the best times to visit.
Birdwatching And Diving in Costa Rica
The clouds descend upon you. There’s a sense of excitement in the air as you wait in the damp forests. This is Costa Rica, one of the world’s most vibrant rainforest locations. Nearly every year, a new discovery is hailed from these South American mountains. Costa Rica is the perfect destination for a wildlife tour that has a little bit of everything: Treks through jungles, snorkeling in the waters and jungle safaris abound.
One of the most remote parts of Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula, is where your adventure should truly begin. With an expert guide from your luxury hotel, you’ll be guided into the Corcovado National Park to try and sight wild gems such as the Resplendent Quetzal, Tapirs running through the undergrowth, and maybe, just maybe a Jaguar that bolts off into the lush Costa Rican jungle.
Image Credits: Costa Rica Focus
And for those that want to hit the crystalline waters instead, Costa Rica offers some excellent diving and snorkeling options. You have a choice of completing a full PADI scuba diving course from world-class instructors or simply diving into the shallower waters and exploring the marine life that swims by your side.
Where Does This Tour Start From?
You will have to land in Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, where a private transfer
How Long Does The Tour Take?
In order to get the best out of your wildlife expedition, we recommend staying around the Aravallis for at least 3 nights.
What Is The Best Season For This Experience?
September and October are typically a mix of hot and cold weather, while it does get quite toasty in the region by summertime. Post-monsoons and winter times are the best times to visit.
Image Credits: National Geographic
